Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1491: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the reason so much farm plastic has not been collected from farms here despite farmers having paid a surcharge when purchasing the new plastic; his views on whether a new collection service will be organised by means of a weighing procedure at farm level; if his Department will help defray some of the costs at farm level; if there are recycling facilities that could use such plastic material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1877/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers — manufacturers and importers — of farm plastics, silage bale wrap and sheeting, are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in, compliance schemes to recover the waste in question. The Irish Farm Film Producers Group, IFFPG, is currently the sole approved body in Ireland for the purposes of implementing a compliance scheme for the recovery of farm plastics waste.

Under the IFFPG scheme, producers apply a levy on the sale of farm plastics that in turn is transferred to the IFFPG for use in funding the collection and recovery of farm plastics waste. The IFFPG is a not-for-profit organisation and it is a matter for the company, under the terms of this producer responsibility initiative and in accordance with the polluter pays principle, to set a rate of levy which will cover its operational costs.

The scheme has operated successfully to date. It is estimated that around 8,500 tonnes, some 55% of farm plastics placed on the market in 2004 were collected for recycling. An estimated 55,000 farmers availed of the collection service in 2004. IFFPG estimates that over 12,500 tonnes of farm plastics were collected in 2005.

While responsibility for the collection and recovery of farm plastics rests with the compliance scheme, my Department monitors the scheme on an ongoing basis. I am aware of the specific issues raised and I am anxious to preserve and continue the success of the farm plastic scheme. Discussions are taking place involving my Department and IFFPG to explore options for improvement to the scheme and resolution of outstanding issues.